An oldie but a goodie, De Viswijf was established in 1999 and has been dishing up satisfying seafood to satisfied customers ever since. Jeanne Calitz returns to this J-Bay classic.

The food

The menu has a retro touch, offering dishes like crumbed mushrooms or biltong soup as starters. We order the latter and also a starter portion of the mussel pot – both are rich, comforting dishes ideal for colder nights, served simply with sliced bread to dip, and the portions are so big we need to stop halfway in order to be able to still enjoy a main course.

Boasting a big menu, you’ll find of course a variety of seafood dishes, including calamari, prawns, hake and Kingklip (subject to availability). If the opportunity avails, ask for the sole, which is served perfectly buttered and pan-fried. But there’s more than just ocean fare to be had here, including a few pastas, chicken dishes, steaks, and a couple of South African favourites like oxtail and tripe.

After an enormous meal, we barely glance at the dessert options before calling it a night, but for future reference, you’ll find old school favourites like chocolate mousse and brownies, plus local and lekker sweet treats like malva pudding and peppermint crisp tart.

De Viswijf. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The drinks

These people take their wines seriously. The big, award-winning list features from budget-friendly wines from the likes of Durbanville Hills and the Beyerskloof, to stocking some star-studded wines from AA Badenhorst, Steenberg and Simonsig.

The service

Service is friendly and personable, by staff members who know the menu by heart and have obviously been around for ages.

The ambience

The vibe is very retro, but it suits the food and the location – the restaurant is located in a quiet part of town right at the end of the beach. It’s a family friendly spot with a decided marine-like theme.

De Viswijf. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

And …

If you’re here in winter (the weather can be surprisingly balmy in J-Bay over the colder months), it makes for a warm and cosy outing, with a gigantic old three legged potjie acting as a fireplace that heats up the venue nicely.

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